Kingfishers In Lancashire

[ronkingfisher]

Hi i have some nice shots of birds but was interested in getting a nice Kingfisher photo. I live in Thornton Cleveleys nr Blackpool and have visited the following reserves, Leighton Moss Marton Mere Blackpool, Marten Mere Southport, Mere Sands Wood, and Brockholes Preston. I use a Canon 50D with a Sigma 150-500mm. I have been told that the Lancaster Canal is a certain place for sightings but after the 2 cold winters not many have been seen. If there is anyone in the Lancashire area that knows of a good place that i could photograph this great colourful bird. The Sigma lens gives me some great pics but when i fit my 2x converter the shots are just out of focus which is so anoying. I shoot on M mode Manual Focus Spot metering High Speed Shooting Auto ISO and Auto WB, if anyone can give me any other advice i would be grateful. i have tried all the other settings but find best results on M mode.

Ron

[John D]

Hi Ron, Welcome to WAB.

A 2X TC on a lens such as you have is not a good idea. Even a 1.4 TC will be very limiting so I would suggest you remove the TC.

Try using Aperture Priority (Av) at around f8 where possible and ISO 400 keeping a careful eye on the resultant shutter speed which you should try and keep around 1/500 at 500mm. (based on shutter speed= 1/lens setting in mm as a guide when hand holding)
Use a tripod to provide some stability and thus an aid to sharper images. However as with all digital images some additional sharpening will be required to be done on a computer with suitable software.

There are no hard and fast rules regarding what settings should be used but I suggest you give the above a try. Lighting conditions and the position of the image will obviously have a bearing on the most suitable settings.

Practise and experiment !

John D
Zenfolio | John's Wild World

[jcurtis]

I know of a place in worcestershire, but not Lancs sorry. The site in question is run by a friend and he charges £145 per day. If you want to know more let me know. Can guarantee you will get the shots.

[tom w w]

Getting close will help, they are small birds, as good as modern kit is field craft is still very important.

If you get a co-operative kingfisher they are easy birds to photograph. Parks and public places can be good as they get used to people being around.

This shot was taken at a new pond in a very quite spot so the bird was very cautiouse. It was with me for 35 Min, but was only in the right spot for 15 seconds or so.

Kingfisher- click to view by Tom W W, on Flickr



Edited to get link working

[ronkingfisher]

Thanks for getting back to me Your photo of Kingfisher is fantastic. ONE DAY

[JeffH]

Hi Ron and welcome to WAB

I'm afraid I can't help you with Kingfisher sites in Lancs (my home county ) as you've already mentioned all the better known / public access Lancashire sites that I'm aware of.

However, if you want to learn more about the behaviour and habits of these beautiful (but sometimes elusive ) birds then you may find this old thread of interest, though I'm afraid it is quite a long read -

Kingfisher Diary (with photos)

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[cosmicma]

there's a couple of places not too far from you one is Pennington Flash near Leigh and the other is Yarrow Valley near Chorley
iv'e seen kingfishers at both reserves and with them being quite public places there reasonably used to people
at yarrow valley they can be seen fishing in the small lake near the entance on occasion and at Pennigton through the hide that looks out over the lake near the golf course i'm sure somebody will be along to name the hide which escapes me at the moment

i would have thought this time of year is a bit late for kingfishers

[JeffH]

Originally Posted by cosmicma

.......i would have thought this time of year is a bit late for kingfishers

Why do you think that cosmicma? There should be more around at this time of year than at other times, with this year's fledglings boosting numbers and searching out/establishing territories.

Also, Kingfishers are not migratory and most tend to hold their territories throughout the year, except in very severe weather when their fishing grounds are frozen and when they'll often move downriver towards the estuaries

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)

[PMG]

Originally Posted by cosmicma

there's a couple of places not too far from you one is Pennington Flash near Leigh and the other is Yarrow Valley near Chorley
iv'e seen kingfishers at both reserves and with them being quite public places there reasonably used to people
at yarrow valley they can be seen fishing in the small lake near the entance on occasion and at Pennigton through the hide that looks out over the lake near the golf course i'm sure somebody will be along to name the hide which escapes me at the moment

i would have thought this time of year is a bit late for kingfishers

Pennington Flash from Penghies Hide which is the only one open at all times - the others are locked overnight - so nothing stopping you turning up very early and sitting and waiting - quite possibly all day - for a few seconds of action! I live just around the corner from PF and used to work there and recently made my mind up to go and wait for the kingfisher - and wait and wait - until I got the shots - it took several visits on different days - and hours at a stretch! The last visit a few weeks back (see zenfolio website link below - look in Latest Images) when hubby and I arrived just after dawn to get the seat we wanted and stayed all day - 8 hours - and fortunately the bird came and spent almost ten mins in front of us. Other times it was another bird (there is a male and a female about) which was not as steady and flew after only 10 seconds worth of photography! So it is hit and miss - but if you are determined and willing to travel perhaps once a week for a full day at Pennington you may get the very shots you desire - good luck!

To reach Penghies Hide, park on the car park, approach the Visitor Centre, keep left round the play area, turn first right off the main path, follow this gentle right hand curved path to first opening in fence which is Penghies. You will realise coming out and away from the hide the fastest way back is straight across the grass to the back of the building/Visitor Centre but it can be very muddy and slippery near the building so take care!

Pauline

[cosmicma]

well iv'e learn't something new today

when iv'e seen kingfishers it's always been during the spring / summer months never in winter ( hence me thinking it was a bit late )
maybe it's because i don't really venture to many places there likely to be during the winter hence not seeing them

Originally Posted by JeffH

Why do you think that cosmicma? There should be more around at this time of year than at other times, with this year's fledglings boosting numbers and searching out/establishing territories.

Also, Kingfishers are not migratory and most tend to hold their territories throughout the year, except in very severe weather when their fishing grounds are frozen and when they'll often move downriver towards the estuaries

Jeff
(Schedule 1 Licence holder for Kingfishers, Barn Owls and Avocets)